Tissue holder

ABSTRACT

A tissue holder is designed to provide tissues for users at the point of use, especially for those people who are mobile. The tissue holder may be used in multiple different ways. First, the tissue holder may adhere to a dashboard in a motor vehicle, close to the driver. This provides convenient access to the tissues with no or minimal distraction for the driver. Second, the tissue holder may snap with a ring, such as a metal ring, having a clasp or other attachment mechanism, onto items such as articles of clothing, book bags, purses, zippers, diaper bags, lanyards, belt loops and the like. Third, the tissue holder may attach around a user&#39;s wrist with an elastic band, hook and loop straps, or the like. Fourth, the tissue holder may be adhered to the inside of a purse or bag.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 61/641,856, filed May 2, 2012, the contents of which areherein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tissue holders and, more particularly,to a tissue holder for holding facial tissues conveniently, at the pointof use, for people who are mobile.

Currently, there are no items available to hold facial tissues, at thepoint of use, in, for example, cars, on a user's wrist, or on apparel.For example, a tissue holder on a car visor or mounted on the back of aseat behind a headrest can take up to four seconds to obtain. This isdifficult, time consuming and can be a dangerous distraction to thedriver. Moreover, these tissue holders do not have the adaptability ofbeing removed and utilized by a person on the go—such as attached to apurse, lanyard, belt loop or the like.

In U.S. Pat. No. 7,275,656, a tissue box is disclosed having an openingon a side thereof, to permit installation of a commercial tissue box orstack of folded tissues. However, the box described in U.S. '656 is abox made of a sturdy material and does not address the issue ofattaching a soft, plush faux fur or cotton, cotton blend, polyester,light weight rayon, or the like, to any hard surface.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved tissue holder forholding facial tissues at the point of use for people who are mobile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a tissue holder comprises anopening adapted to permit a tissue container or stack of pre-foldedtissues to be inserted inside the tissue holder; a tissue stabilizingflap adapted to extend from a top side of the tissue holder to a frontside of the tissue holder; and a two-step attachment means for removablyattaching the tissue holder to a surface, the two-step attachment meansincluding a mechanism to permit reattachment of the tissue holder to thesurface.

In another aspect of the present invention, a tissue holder comprises anopening adapted to permit a tissue container or stack of pre-foldedtissues to be inserted inside the tissue holder; a tissue stabilizingflap adapted to extend from a top side of the tissue holder to a frontside of the tissue holder; a two-step attachment means for removablyattaching the tissue holder to a surface, the two-step attachment meansincluding a mechanism to permit reattachment of the tissue holder to thesurface; an attachment clip disposed on an attachment strip attached tothe tissue holder; a key ring attachment disposed on a key ringattachment strip attached to the tissue holder; a lip balm holderdisposed on a side of the tissue holder; and a wrist band disposed on aback side of the tissue holder.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a tissue holder, with its flap open, accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the tissue holder of FIG. 1 with its flapclosed;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the tissue holder of FIG. 1 with its flapclosed;

FIG. 4 is an interior, unassembled view of a carrier bag accessory thatthe tissue holder of FIG. 1 can be attached via hook and loop fasteners,snaps, magnets, or the like;

FIG. 5 is an exterior, assembled view of the carrier bag of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a tissue holder according to analternate embodiment of the present invention, with its flap open; and

FIG. 7 is a back view of the tissue holder of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a tissue holderdesigned to provide tissues for users at the point of use, especiallyfor those people who are mobile. The tissue holder of the presentinvention may be used in multiple different ways. First, the tissueholder may adhere to a dashboard in a motor vehicle, close to thedriver. This provides convenient access to the tissues with no orminimal distraction for the driver. Second, the tissue holder of thepresent invention may snap with a ring, such as a metal ring, having aclasp or other attachment mechanism, onto items such as articles ofclothing, book bags, purses, zippers, diaper bags, lanyards, belt loopsand the like. Third, the tissue holder of the present invention mayattach around a user's wrist with an elastic band, hook and loop straps,or the like. Fourth, the tissue holder may be adhered to the inside of apurse or bag.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a front view of a tissue holder with atissue covering flap 4 opened is shown according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. Inner dimensions of the tissueholder are designed to be substantially similar to outside dimensions ofa commercially available tissue container so that the tissue containeror stack of folded tissues can be inserted into the holder. In someembodiments of the present invention, the tissue holder is asubstantially slab-shaped device with a front face 9, a bottom face 10(see FIG. 3), an optional tissue covering flap 4, and a flap 8 at thetop edge of the face.

The tissue covering flap 4 may be designed for the purpose of coveringthe tissue opening (such as optional V opening 5, optional U opening 6or optional square opening 7) to maintain cleanliness of the existingtissue and lightly held shut with an attachment mechanism 3, such as ahook and loop fastener (such as Velcro®), snaps, buttons, a magnet andmetal piece, or the like, to provide ease of access. The flap 8 may be aclosing flap that can attach shut with a fastener 1, 2, for example,hook and loop fasteners, snaps, buttons and the like. The flap 8 can bedesigned in various shapes, as shown in FIG. 1, for example.

The top face 9 can include an open slot or aperture 5, 6 or 7 which canbe centered at the top edge of face 9. In some embodiments, the openslot 6 has a U-shape with rounded corners. In other embodiments, theopen slot 5 has a pointed V-shape. In other embodiments, the open slot 7has sharp corners. Other opening shapes are contemplated within thescope of the present invention. The length and width of the open slot oraperture 5, 6 or 7 can be chosen such that the tissues can be retrievedsequentially through the open slot 5, 6 or 7 without any difficulty.

The open, unattached edge 17 can be designed such that a tissuecontainer or stack of folded tissues can be inserted into the holderafter the tissue container has already been opened.

An attachment loop 14 can be provided as a secure attachment for aclosing clip 15. The closing clip 15 may be various types of clips,including but not limited to speed clips, screw clips, clasp clips,keychain clips, or the like.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the tissue holder of FIG. 1 with the flaps4, 8 in a closed position.

FIG. 3 shows a back view of the tissue holder of FIG. 1 with the flaps4, 8 in a closed position. The back face 10 can include a two-stepattachment means (such as Velcro®) sewn and/or attached directly to thetissue holder back including both faces of hook and loop tape and anadhesive 18 located directly on top of the Velcro back to be used forattaching the tissue holder to a number of surfaces. The adhesive 18 ontop of the attachment means can be designed for attaching the tissueholder to a surface including, but not limited to, an automobiledashboard, an interior building wall, metal, plastic, glass, and thelike.

The two-step attachment means has several advantages. For example, sincethe adhesive 18 may be designed as a non-permanent adhesive, there is nothreat of damage to automobile dashboards (or other attachment points),or of leaving an unattractive appearance. Users can simply remove theadhesive if they choose. However, this does not limit the use of apermanent adhesive. Also, the Velcro® attachment to the adhesive allowsusers the flexibility to remove the tissue holder from its fixedlocation and carry it with them, attach it to a bag, purse, coat zipper,belt loop, lanyard via clip 15, or to their wrist via the optional wristband 16. The tissue holder can then be returned to the fixed location ofthe Velcro® without destroying the adhesive 18.

In some embodiments, the tissue holder can include a permanentattachment feature molded into the back side thereof. This permanentattachment feature can be adapted, for example, for placement on a cardashboard onto a holder integrated into the dashboard. Of course, otherattachment locations, in addition to a car dashboard, are contemplatedwithin the scope of the present invention.

The tissue holder of FIGS. 1 through 3 may be modified to include aremovable or permanent attachment 19 with an opening on at least one ofthe ends 20, 21 for the purpose of, for example, housing a tube of lipbalm.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the interior of a purse or bag has aninterior lining surface 22 having attached to it an array of attachmentmeans 23 with any option in the positioning, length and distance betweenattachment means 23. Mating Velcro®, snaps, buttons or button holes,magnetic pieces or metal may be utilized in order to attach the abovedescribed tissue holder and many other holders that may house cellphones, keys, makeup pouches, supplies, cash, credit cards, sunglasses,reading glasses, manicure kits, cigarettes, wallets, hair care items,and a limitless array of items. FIG. 4 shows an unassembled purse inorder to illustrate the interior features, while FIG. 5 shows anassembled purse with exterior edges 28, an exterior surface 27, and anopening 26 to access an interior thereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a tissue holder can have a top side 30to form a generally rectangular cube structure for holding tissues 25.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the tissue holder can beattached to a wheel chair, bicycle, motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, orthe like, then removed by detaching one side of the Velcro®, leaving theadhesive and other side of Velcro®. An optional adjustable wrist band 16can be used with pocket sized tissue holders, for example. An optionalwrist band design may include elastic

Velcro® with loop to receive one end, making the size adjustable. Anoptional key ring 13 and accompanying attachment strip 12 can also beused to secure the tissue holder. The location of attachment strip 12 isnot limited to present location in illustrated drawing. Moreover, anattachment clip 15 with accompanying attachment strip 14 can be used tosecure the tissue holder. The location of attachment strip 14 is notlimited to present location in illustrated drawing.

The tissue holder of the present invention may be made from variousmaterials, such as plastic, leather, plush fabric, faux fur, cotton,cotton blend, polyester, light weight rayon, quilted woven fabric, andthe like and may or may not have an additional liner fabric used in theinterior. The tissue holder of the present invention is not limited toany particular shape and size, as the drawings merely depict anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. Tissue containers forother practical shapes and sizes are included in the spirit of thepresent invention and should be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tissue holder comprising: an opening adapted topermit a tissue container or stack of pre-folded tissues to be insertedinside the tissue holder; a tissue stabilizing flap adapted to extendfrom a top side of the tissue holder to a front side of the tissueholder; and a two-step attachment means for removably attaching thetissue holder to a surface, the two-step attachment means including amechanism to permit reattachment of the tissue holder to the surface. 2.The tissue holder of claim 1, further comprising an attachment clipdisposed on an attachment strip attached to the tissue holder.
 3. Thetissue holder of claim 1, further comprising a key ring attachmentdisposed on a key ring attachment strip attached to the tissue holder.4. The tissue holder of claim 1, further comprising a lip balm holderdisposed on a side of the tissue holder.
 5. The tissue holder of claim1, further comprising a wrist band disposed on a back side of the tissueholder.
 6. The tissue holder of claim 1, wherein the opening is aV-shaped opening.
 7. The tissue holder of claim 1, wherein the openingis a U-shaped opening.
 8. The tissue holder of claim 1, wherein theopening is a square-shaped opening.
 9. The tissue holder of claim 1,further comprising a tissue closure flap operable to cover the opening.10. The tissue holder of claim 1, wherein the tissue stabilizing flap isdisposed on each side of the opening.
 11. A tissue holder comprising: anopening adapted to permit a tissue container or stack of pre-foldedtissues to be inserted inside the tissue holder; a tissue closure flapoperable to cover the opening; a tissue stabilizing flap adapted toextend from a top side of the tissue holder to a front side of thetissue holder; a two-step attachment means for removably attaching thetissue holder to a surface, the two-step attachment means including amechanism to permit reattachment of the tissue holder to the surface; anattachment clip disposed on an attachment strip attached to the tissueholder; a key ring attachment disposed on a key ring attachment stripattached to the tissue holder; a lip balm holder disposed on a side ofthe tissue holder; and a wrist band disposed on a back side of thetissue holder.
 12. The tissue holder of claim 11, wherein the opening isone of a V-shaped opening, a U-shaped opening and a square-shapedopening.